Seat actuated compression tank water closet



Aug. 4, 1936. J. A. BROWN 2,049,390

SEAT ACTUATED COMPRESSION TANK WATER CLOSET Filed Feb. 14, 1955 sSheets-Sheet 1 v MJ'QMW Aug. 4, 1936. J. A BROWN SEAT ACTUATEDCOMPRESSION TANK WATER CLOSET Filed Feb. 14, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug.4, 1936. J. A..BROWN 2,049,899

I SEAT ACTUATED COMPRESSION TANK WATER CLOSET 'Filed Feb. 14, 1935 v 3Sheets-Sheet 5 7521630504 dch/aQ/fl 5/ "020724 l aten tecl Aug. 4, 1936SEAT ACTUATED COMPRESSION TANK WATER CLOSET My present invention relatesto improvements in seat actuated compression tank water closets and hasfor its objects (1) the rendering of such apparatus more simple andeffective so that it will operate more dependably and with greaterefliciency and more uniformly; (2) and I have also had in mind theprovision of a structure which may be mounted with bowls having either atop or back or rear flush inlet port; (3) and I have also providedadditional security against the possible creation of a vacuum in thesupply or service line, which, if created, might, under abnormalciroumstances, occasion a contamination of the service water supply. 7

I have accomplished the above outlined objects by means of. thestructure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is adiagrammatic elevation of a top mounting.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic elevation of a rear mounting.

Fig. 3 shows a top mounting associated with the bowl in verticalsection, the valve being in flushing position.

Fig. 4 is a similar vertical central section of the valve, the samebeing in the position occasioned by the depressing of the seat and inwhich the flush tank is being filled.

Fig. 5 is a top plan of the fitting for assembling the valve and tankwith a bowl having a top opening flush entrance port.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a rear assembly.

Fig. 7 is a central vertical section through the valve taken at rightangles to the section shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a fragmental rear elevation of a rear assembly.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental sectional detail of a float operated tank vacuumrelief valve. 7

Fig. 10 is a fragmental sectional detail of. a pneumatically operatedtank vacuum relief valve.

Fig. 11 is a fragmental sectional detail of a portion of theconstruction shown in Fig. 10 but at right angles thereto.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout therespective views.

The features which are similar in articles of this class are a valveconstructed to be operated when the closet seat is occupied so as topermit water to enter a sealed tank from the service water supply andwhen the weight is removed from the seat the valve closes the servicewater supply and opens a channel from the tank to the flush port of thebowl; The tank is generally positioned with respect to the bowl so thatthe water descends therefrom to the bowl by gravity and by force of theair compressed in the tank by the pressure of the service water supply.This is a remarkably efficient arrangement during normal 5 operativeconditions but abnormal conditions may develop when the service watersupply is entirely out off or the pressure therein so reduced as to beless than the atmospheric pressure when there is at least a possibilityof water being drawn from 10 the bowl into the service water supply.

The valve herein illustrated and described may be assembled with eithera top or rear flush entrance bo-wl with different attaching means, butwithout any change in the valve. The valve it- 15v self, as most clearlyshown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7, consists in a vertical cylindrical casing l5having an intermediate enlargement I6, which enlargement has aninteriorly extending annular ridge ll. Extending rearwardly from thevalve casing I5 20 opposite and upon both sides of the locations of theridge I1 is a development providing an easily curved hollow spud l8above the ridge ii for connection with the tank I!) and below the ridgethe development provides the hollow spud 20 for con- 25 necting thevalve and the parts with which the valve is assembled with the bowl.

Mounted within the casing is a casting consisting of a central stem 2!having valve disks 22 and 23 at its opposite ends. Extending down- 30wardly from the end of the valve member bearing the disk 23 is a valvestem 24 which passes through the lower end of the casing I5 and throughthe packing gland nut 25 associated therewith. The stem 24 co-operateswith a projection 25 con- 35 stituting a portion of the hinge of theseat 26 so that when the seat is occupied and depressed the valve stemand the disks 22 and 23 will be forced into the elevated position shownin Fig. 4, and when the seat is not occupied the spring, hereafter to bedescribed, and the pressure of the service water supply will force thedisk 23 downwardly into the position shown in Figs. 3 and '7.

The top of the valve casing I5 is closed by the cap 21 and mountedbetween the cap 2? and the 45 top of the disk 22 is the coil spring 28.Provided laterally of the casing ill with respect to the spuds l8 and 2Bis a hollow development 29, as most clearly shown in Fig. 7, with whichthe service water supply pipe 30 is connected. The 50 location of thehollow development 29 is such that when the disk 22 is in lowermostposition, as. shown in Figs. 3. and 7, the entrance from the development29 into the casing is above the disk,

but when the disk 22 is in its uppermost position, 55

as shown in Fig. 4, the top of the disk 22 will be above the top of theopening from the development 29 and a portion of the opening from thedevelopment 29 will be below the lower face of the disk 22. Therelations of the disks 22 and 23 are such that when the disk 22 is inits uppermost position the disk 23 will fit within the ridge I1 andclose such opening, and when the disk 22 is in its lowermost positionthe disk 23 will fall below the ridge I! and permit water to flow fromthe spud l8 into the spud 20.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, in making such valve the makers haverelied upon the back pressure built up when the tank is filled,operating upon the top of the disk 22, to force the valve down when theweight upon the seat has been removed. In normal operation there isample hydrostatic pressure to secure this operation, but conditions mayeasily occur to render the operation abnormal. For instance, if pressureis relieved from the seat before the tank has been filled and beforeback pressure has been built up, the action of the valve upon thebuilding up of back pressure is quick and liable to be noisy as the seatis violently thrown up and the valve clatters as it assumes lowermostposition. Also, if the service water pressure falls at night or at othertimes when the apparatus is being used, the valve will not completelyfall until suflicient pressure comes on again and there may be created aleak through the valve and bowl. To overcome these possibilities I haveinserted the spring 28, as heretofore described, which is of sufficientstrength to force the seat up when pressure is relieved therefrom,thereby causing the stem 24 to follow the seat action without noise andto dependably force the valve into its lowermost position and close ofifthe service water supply independently of any pressure which may or maynot exist in the service water supply,

In my present form of valve I have enlarged the disk 22 and the Valvebarrel so as to render these parts extremely effective in closing theinlet from the service water supply at all times when the disk 23 is notin upper position so that there is no practical danger of seepage aroundthe disk 22.

It will, of course, be understood that the only time when water entersand is maintained in the tank I!) is when the seat is depressed and thatwhen the seat is in elevated position the water flows by gravity and isforced by pressure from the tank into the bowl and that in the normaloperation of the device the valve, being above the bowl, contains nowater and no drainage would be available even if a vacuum or partialvacuum were developed in the service water supply pipe 35. However, ifit should so happen (I do not know of a case where it has actuallyhappened) that the drain from the bowl were stopped up and the bowl wereflooded to its top and a vacuum were produced and maintained for aconsiderable time in the pipe 30, air would be exhausted from the tankI!) and then water might be drawn up from the bowl and seepage mightoccur and contamination of the service water supply would be imminent.To prevent such a possibility I have provided the structure shown inFigs. 1, 2, 9, 10 and 11.

On the top of the tank I9 I provide a threaded orifice 31 in which isscrewed an air valve casing 32 consisting of a barrel in which operatesa piston 33 moved upwardly and downwardly by a float 34 through theinstrumentality of a rod 35. In the top of the casing 32 screws a plug36 which has a central bore 31 opening exteriorly to the air through aport 38. The lower end 39 of the plug 36 constitutes the seat with whichthe piston 33 cooperates so that when the Water flows into the tank I9the float rises and seats the piston or valve 33 against the seat 39 andprevents the discharge of air from the tank, but when the water falls inthe tank and permits the float 34 to descend, air is admitted to thetank l9 through the port 38 and the water runs out, even if the bowl bealready'flooded, over the top of the bowl until the spuds l8 and 20 arefree of water and the development of a vacuum in tube 30 would have nopower to suck water into the service water supply because no vacuumcould be produced in tank I9.

The structure shown in Figs. 9 and 2 employ the float operated valvejust described.

The structures illustrated in Figs. 1, 10 and 11 are for the samepurpose as the float operating valve but employ merely pneumaticpressure for operating the vacuum relief valve. The pneumaticallyoperated valve comprises a centrally bored plug 40 depending from theend of which is a tube 4 I. The plug 40 carries an annular upstandingflange 42 which assembles with a valve casing 43. Around the bore in theplug is an upstanding hollow nipple 44 having one or-more air vents 45leading from the exterior to the interior thereof. Seating in the top ofthis nipple 44 is a short piece of pipe 46 to the top of which issecured by a screw 41 a flexible valve washer 48, the edges of whichco-operate with the inner surface of the casing 43 suficiently so that aslight pressure will sufiice to carry the pipe 46to its upper limit ofmovement. When water flows from the tank, however, the washer 48 willflex and air will enter the tank. An additional valve seating member 49is secured on top of washer 48 by screw 41. The top of the valve casingis so made that the valve seating member 49 seats thereon when the valveis forced upwardly by the air flowing from the tank acting on the washer48. To further reduce the flow of air I'have provided in the top of theValve seat a recess to receive the top of the screw 41, which isobliquely slotted, as at 50. In the top ofthe valve casing 43 is a.centrally bored plug 5| having an air port 52 therein. This apparatusworks precisely like the float operated valve when the tank [9 emptiesbelow the bottom of the tube 4| to admit outside air to the tank l9.

In assembly either with top or rear opening bowls, spud I8 is assembledwith the tank in any desired conventional way, such as is shown in Figs.3 and 4, by means of a union consisting of a nipple 53 and collar 54attached to spud l8 and a nipple 55 attached to the length of pipe 56connecting with the tank. In the assembly between the valve and the topopening bowlpas shown in Figs. 3 and La union consisting of a nipple 51and collar 58 is secured to the 'spud 20 and the collar 58 connectswith-the stub 59 arising from the fitting 6E}. Fitting 60'sets upon agasket 6| over the flush inlet port 62in the bowl. Fitting 60 has a baror strap 63 running diametrically thereof, which is centrally bored andtapped. A bridge piece 64 is provided, in the center of which is securedby a'fit which will resist further revolution, a threaded stem 65. Thebridge '34is inserted within the bowl and fitting 60 is screwed downupon it until a firm fit is secured before the spud 20 is attached.

The assembly with a rear opening bowl, as

shown in Figs. 6 and 8, comprises an L pipe 66, secured to the spud 20by a union 61. The lower end of the L of pipe 66 terminates in avertical plate 68 which is laterally extended to permit of receivingelongated apertures 69 opposite the lower ends of the bolts 10 which areemployed for mounting the cover 26. A special form of eye bolt H with acylindrical eye engages with the bolt 10 and extends out through theslot 69 and is secured in place by nuts 12. This constitutes a very firmand dependable, and yet simple, mounting for the valve and tank andprovides an installation also identical with the top bowl assemblyexcept for a slight displacement of the tank with respect to the bowl.

Having described my invention what I claim is new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In seat operated water closets including a bowl, a tank, a seatoperated valve establishing communication between a water supply portand said tank and closing communication between said tank and said bowlin one position and closing said water supply and opening communicationbetween said tank and said bowl in another position, means for closingsaid tank against the escape of air while it is receiving water andpermitting air to enter said tank when the water has been dischargedtherefrom,. comprising a tube extending from the top of said tank toadjacent the bottom thereof, the top of said tube having communicationwith the air and the bottom thereof opening into said tank and an airoperated valve located in the passageway of said tube.

2. In combination with a staple washed down back expansion spud closetbowl, a seat operated flushing equipment, including a pressure tank, aseat, seat operated means for charging and discharging said tank, meansfor assembling said elements comprising the standard seat bolts passingthrough the standard holes in said bowl for attaching said seat andlaterally extending means engaging said seat bolts to which are securedthe 20 flushing elements.

JOHN A. BROWN.

